Proposals for a 30-storey development in Deptford offering 15 per cent affordable housing are set to go before Lewisham’s strategic planning committee on Tuesday (November 17).  

Developers Kitewood and Galliard Homes are jointly planning to build 393 flats in two tower blocks, 26 and 30 storeys, and an extension to the Trinity Laban music and dance centre at Creekside Village East. 

Kitewood owns nearly half the site, which is mostly derelict, Lewisham Council owns a third, and Trinity Laban the rest. 

If the scheme is approved, the council is set to get 16 flats through a land sale agreement with Kitewood. 

The council would own the flats on 250-year leases and intends to let them at full market rent.  

“It is anticipated that the council would let out these units on the open market at private rental levels, and could direct income received towards the delivery of genuinely affordable housing, through the council’s own development programme,” according to the planning report. 

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It will also receive half a million pounds in the deal because, as per the land agreement, the amount of private residential space increased from what was originally expected.  

Just 15 per cent of the homes on offer – 59 shared ownership units – will be ‘affordable’.

The planning application received 152 objections, and 79 comments of support. 

Objectors said the scheme would be an “overdevelopment” of the site, would “severely” impact on the amount daylight and sunlight reaching surrounding properties, would put pressure on local services, and criticised the affordable housing offer. 

Lewisham’s target on new developments is 50 per cent affordable homes. 

But Kitewood, which originally offered 10 per cent, argues it cannot afford to offer more because of the cost of extending Trinity Laban, which could cost about £20 million.  

The Trinity Laban extension will include a 150-seat performance venue, four dance studios, three large rehearsal studios, a new public front of house area, and workshops for scenery, props and costumes. 

Letters of support were received from the United Reformed Church, Deptford Green School, and the Horniman Museum. 

Supporters said the scheme would enable Trinity Laban, described as a “major cultural asset”, to expand.

Others described the existing site as an “eyesore”, which “attracts anti-social behaviour”, and said the development would bring new homes to the area and “contribute to addressing the housing crisis in London”.